KOTA KINABALU: The dramatic ouster of popular Kadazandusun grassroots leader Jannie Lasimbang (pic) and other top lawmakers from the Sabah DAP line-up is being blamed on internal power struggles within the party.

       Former senator Adrian Lasimbang, who was also ousted in the party polls over the weekend, said that the move came as a surprise to them as they believe that certain state leaders plotted the move to consolidate their positions.

       "Jannie is widely seen as one of those who would eventually take over the leadership of Sabah DAP as part of the party's national agenda to broaden its Sabah base.

       "They seem to have left us out of the menu (list of candidates to be voted)," he said when contacted Tuesday (Nov 23).

       He said that Sabah DAP’s main base was in Sandakan with a total 45 branches while Penampang and Kota Kinabalu had 13 active branches.

       "Even if we campaigned, we would have lost. We did not realise that we were targeted to be pushed out.

       "It was a combination of over-ambitious people and people with inferiority complexes. They chose position instead of solidarity," he said, adding that the results of the state party elections were “localised” and dismissed talk that it was part of the party's national political play.

       However, Adrian said that Jannie, Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin (who was ousted as Sabah DAP secretary), Elopura assemblyman Calvin Chong and himself will continue to work for the party.

       "We talked among ourselves and we will continue to work as usual. There is no question about leaving the party," said Adrian.

       Sabah DAP chairman Datuk Frankie Poon, who heads Sandakan's DAP base, said that the results were normal and the party was still intact.

       Local political observer Tony Paridi Bagang said that political developments within the Sabah DAP could tarnish DAP’s and Pakatan Harapan’s image if they could not resolve it amicably.

       "I suppose Sabah DAP is also attempting to ‘reform’ its leadership and bring in young leaders.

       "Like it or not, surely it has an impact especially on the indigenous native support. But to what extent the impact, I am not yet certain for now," he said, adding that native leaders in DAP drew a lot of support from the Chinese.